Longest day celebrated at Cornwall's new summer solstice event
Krak O Dawn began as a 'secret event' last year, and involves an all-male choir, an all-female morris side, and lots of oranges
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It's 5.30am and the car park is completely full - it seems that most people started the longest day of the year long before I did. The more sensible folk are arriving at Pendennis Point in Falmouth on bikes or on foot, greeted by the sound of bagpipes and an understated sunrise.
Summer solstice celebrations have been popular for millennia, so it should come as no surprise that crowds are flocking to this early morning gathering overlooking Falmouth Bay. However, despite its apparent popularity, this particular summer solstice custom in Cornwall dates back a mere 365 days.
Started last year as a 'secret event' to mark the longest day of the year, 'Krak O Dawn' attracted around 150 curious early risers through whispered word-of-mouth. This year, without any advertisement, the event has grown in size, with at least a couple of hundred people in the know about Cornwall's latest summer solstice tradition.
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Seamas Carey, known for his podcast 'The Reason Why' and cross-generational male voice choir 'Men Are Singing', came up with the idea for Krak O Dawn. "I'm just a massive fan of traditions and rituals. I think they serve a huge purpose for society, and maybe with the waning of religion you could argue that that is what we are lacking now - ceremony and rituals."
"I love inventing rituals, and I was really inspired by May Day in Padstow and Helston Flora Day. I love things that happen early in the morning! So I wanted to start something for Falmouth involving our choir, Men Are Singing. And it turns out quite a few of the men are married to members of the all-female morris side The WAD, so we combined and last year we thought let's just try this. We announced it the night before, and 150 people came. This year it feels like it is growing."
To start off the longest day of the year in celebration, Krak O Dawn features singing from Seamas' male voice choir and dancing from the truly unique The WAD. Sam Trenerry, one of the morris dancers in The WAD explained its origins: "The WAD has been going since October 2022, so we're still quite new. We follow all the traditions of morris dancing, but try and make a few of our own, and have fun with silly costumes and make-up.
"We're here to celebrate the solstice with Men Are Singing, who are our male counterparts, so to speak, in Falmouth. Last year, we didn't know what to expect, and it became this absolutely magical event. And then this year has been equally magical, and lots of people have been crazy enough to get up at this ungodly hour to come and watch us."
With the singing and dancing complete, the final custom of Krak O Dawn is the sharing of oranges that people are encouraged to bring (it is stipulated that it is bad luck to eat your own!) Depending on who you ask, the oranges are symbolic of the sun, or just one of Seamas' favourite morning snacks. Either way, the morning air is filled with a sweet citrus smell, there are smiles all around, and on this longest day of the year, it's not even 7am.
There are 33 pictures in this photo story - click on the 'NEXT' button at the bottom of the page to see them all.
Bagpipes welcome the crowds at dawn.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)1 of 33A muted sunrise over Falmouth Bay.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)2 of 33Men Are Singing begin the Krak O Dawn event.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)3 of 33'Sunny Jim' leads The WAD out into their first dance.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)4 of 33Morris dancing with a twist.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)5 of 33The first light on the longest day of the year.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)6 of 33The WAD dance with morris sticks.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)7 of 33Crowds of people watch at Pendennis Point.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)8 of 33Seamas Carey leads Men Are Singing into their next song.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)9 of 33Seamas says that he 'loves inventing rituals.'
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)10 of 33The perfect spot to watch the performances.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)11 of 33'Sunny Jim' fromThe WAD.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)12 of 33Sam Trenerry from The WAD.
(Image: Greg Martin / Cornwall Live)13 of 33